A Prayer For Secretaries

ANN LANDERS Syndicated Columnist

April 26, 1995|ANN LANDERS Syndicated Columnist

Dear Ann Landers: A few years ago, you printed a "prayer" for secretaries. It went up on our bulletin board and created a sensation. When the boss heard about it, he came out of his office and read it. He smiled, and then he blushed. I feel certain it "registered."Please run it again - on Secretary's Day. We have a new boss, and we want him to see it. - No Names, No City

Dear No Names: Here's the prayer, again on Secretary's Day, although it does seem a bit dated.

"Dear Lord, help me to do my work well, to have the memory of an elephant, and by some miracle to be able to do five things at once - answer four telephones while typing a letter that `must go out today.' When the letter doesn't get signed until tomorrow, please give me the good sense and the discipline to keep my mouth shut.

"Dear Lord, never let me lose patience, even when the boss has me searching the files for hours for data that is later discovered on his desk.

"Help me to understand and carry out all instructions to perfection without any explanation.

"And Lord, when the year ends, please give me the foresight not to throw out records that will be asked for in a few days even though I was told emphatically, `Destroy these. They are cluttering up the place.' Amen."- D.G., Montreal

Dear Ann Landers: I went to work for a new company in 1988. My job became a lot more interesting when an attractive man in middle management showed some interest in me.

"Mickey" and I began to see a lot of each other. By the time I reached my 33rd birthday, Mickey and I had been practically living together for five years. I told him I wanted to set a wedding date. His response was "I am not good enough for you. I'm going to set you free so you can find someone who is worthy of a wonderful woman like you."